Hair extensions

ABSTRACT

A Set for installing hair extensions includes a plurality of connecting elements and at least one extension element. Each of the plurality of connecting elements includes a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and provided on an outer side with a first magnet. The connecting elements can be connected to respective locks of hair of a person by positioning the tubular element around the locks of hair. The extension element includes a strip to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected. The strip further includes a plurality of second magnets which are compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements so that the extension elements can be connected via the magnets to the locks of hair of the person.

The present invention relates to a set for installing hair extensions.

Hair extensions are used to add length and/or volume to hair on a person's head. Hair which is not the body's own, and which may be natural or synthetic, is for this purpose connected to the head hair. In the present description the hair on a person's head will be described as hair, and in at least partially bundled state as locks of hair. The hair which is not the body's own and which is installed as extension will be referred to in this description as hair extension.

Different methods and mechanisms are known for connecting hair extensions to hair. The most commonly used extensions are so-called fusion or keratin extensions, wherein a polymer is pre-bonded to a hair extension. Via the polymer the extension is fused to the hair, for instance by means of heat or by means of ultrasonic waves. Alternatively, hair extensions can be attached to the hair through pinching, by means of small metal or plastic rings. The hair extensions can be formed here as mats, which are also referred to as wefts. Wefts are wide strips of hair extensions, varying from 4 cm in width to 27 cm in width. These wefts can be attached to the hair by being braided in, being attached with small metal or plastic rings, or by being adhered. Clamps or clips can further be provided so that the wefts can be clipped into the hair, also referred to as clip-ins.

Existing systems and methods for installing hair extensions have a number of drawbacks. Installing hair extensions thus requires considerable professional knowledge, skill and experience. Hair extensions are therefore installed at higher-end hair salons, where it is a time-consuming activity. Hair extensions are expensive due to the working hours required for installing the hair extensions. A further drawback of known hair extensions relates to their lifespan. This is because the hair extensions are fixedly attached to the hair of the person. The hair of the person grows, causing the distance between the scalp and the location where the hair extensions are connected to the hair to increase over time. This is also referred to as growing out of the hair extensions. Outgrowth results in the hair extensions having to be removed after several weeks. A further drawback is related to carrying out everyday activities such as washing and sleeping. Hair extensions are often perceived as uncomfortable during washing and/or sleeping.

It is an object of the invention to provide a set for installing hair extensions which obviates one or more of the above stated drawbacks.

The invention provides for this purpose a set for installing hair extensions, wherein the set comprises a plurality of connecting elements and at least one extension element, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements comprises a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and provided on an outer side with a first magnet, wherein the connecting elements can be connected to respective locks of hair of a person by positioning the tubular element around the locks of hair, and wherein the extension element comprises a strip to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected, and wherein the strip further comprises a plurality of second magnets which are compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements so that the extension elements can be connected via the magnets to the locks of hair of the person.

In the set according to the invention the extension elements, comprising the hair extensions, are not directly connected to the hair of the person. Connecting elements will be provided in the hair of the person, wherein each connecting element comprises a first magnet. The extension elements comprise second magnets so that the extension elements can be connected via the first and second magnets to the connecting elements. The hair extensions are thus indirectly and releasably connected to the locks of hair of the person.

The connecting elements are each formed as a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer. The anti-slip layer realizes a resistance to sliding between the tubular element and the lock of hair of the person. The anti-slip layer allows a reduction of the clamping force of the tube relative to the lock of hair of the person, while, because of the increased resistance, the position of the tubular element relative to the lock of hair can be maintained. Tests have shown that this reduced clamping force has a number of advantages. Firstly, the hair of the person will become less damaged as a result of the lower clamping force. Secondly, the friction force of the anti-slip layer can be overcome when desired, so that the tubular element can be repositioned, for instance following at least partial outgrowth of the hair. This is in contrast to the situation where the tubular element is clamped fixedly around the hair, wherein the clamping force typically cannot be overcome without considerably damaging the hair. The second advantage is that the connecting elements can be repositioned at regular intervals so that the lifespan of the set is increased considerably.

Because the hair extensions are connected to the connecting elements via the magnets, the hair extensions can be easily removed for carrying out everyday activities such as sleeping, washing, cooking and so on. Tests have further shown that installing the extension elements with the hair extensions after the connecting elements have already been installed in the hair of the person is extremely simple. The extension elements can be connected with their second magnets to respective first magnets of the connecting elements in order to install the extension elements.

A person having the ability to arrange or remove the extension elements as desired has a further surprising advantage. Extension elements are connected to the hair of the person and typically pull on the hair of the person. While roots of the hair are able to bear the own weight of the hair, they are often unable to withstand additional forces engaging on the hair, particularly when these forces engage for a longer period of time. Permanent hair extensions have the drawback that the roots of the hair of the person are being continuously overloaded, which may result in undesired hair loss. Because the extension elements of the set of the invention are releasable by uncoupling the first and second magnets, the majority of the weight of the set can be removed from the hair of the person. This enhances the lifespan and health of the hair of the person. Tests have shown that considerably less hair loss will occur when use is made of the set for installing hair extensions according to the invention and when the person periodically removes the extension elements from hair.

A further advantage of the set according to the invention is that installing a plurality of connecting elements with the first magnets in the hair of a person is easy when no hair extensions are connected to the connecting elements yet. This is because the absence of the hair extensions during attachment of the connecting elements makes it possible to easily maintain an overview of the number of installed connecting elements and the positions thereof in the hair of the person.

Each tubular element is preferably plastically deformable so that it can be pinched shut when the tubular element has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person so as to thus connect the tubular element to the lock of hair. Making the tubular element plastically deformable enables the opening on an inner side of the tubular element to be changed between an open state, wherein a lock of hair can be carried through the tubular element in simple manner, and a pinched-shut state wherein the tubular element is pressed with its anti-slip layer against the hair of the person. Pinching shut of the tubular element will increase the resistance to sliding of the hair relative to the tubular element. As already elucidated above, the tubular element will here not have to be pinched wholly shut around the lock of hair, owing to the presence of the anti-slip layer. The anti-slip layer will however have to be pressed against the hair of the person with sufficiently great force in order to allow the resistance to be developed. It will be apparent that this can be determined and carried out by a skilled person through tests. The main purpose of the connecting elements is here to support the extension elements. This means that the tubular elements have been pinched shut around the locks of hair to sufficient extent when the resistance between the anti-slip layer and the hair of the person is great enough to be able to support the weight of the connecting elements and the extension elements. A greater resistance or a stronger connection between an connecting element and the lock of hair serves no further purpose, on the contrary, it will prevent the connecting element from being repositioned after at least partial outgrowth of the hair. Plastically deforming the tubular elements further reduces the overall thickness of the tubular element, which increases the comfort for the person while wearing the hair extensions.

The anti-slip layer is preferably formed by a silicone sleeve placed in the tubular element. The silicone sleeve preferably has a material thickness of a minimum of 0.2 mm, preferably a minimum of 0.4 mm, most preferably 0.6 mm. The silicone sleeve will function as resilient element which distributes the pinching force over the different hairs in the lock of hair, such that damage to the hair can be prevented and such that the tensile force of the connecting element is distributed substantially evenly over the hairs of the lock of hair. Tests have further shown that, when hairs are clamped in a tubular element provided with a silicone sleeve, it is possible to displace the connecting element by means of overcoming the resistance between the silicone sleeve and the hairs, while the resistance between the silicone sleeve and the hairs is sufficiently high to carry the extension elements.

Each tubular element preferably has a flat segment on the outer side, wherein the first magnet is glued fixedly against the flat segment. Providing a flat segment on the outer side of each tubular element enables the first magnet to be glued to the tubular element over a sufficiently large surface area. The flat segment further has a positive effect on the overall thickness of the connecting element, which is more limited because of the flat segment. A compact connecting element is hereby obtained.

The set preferably further comprises an accessory with a base and a carrier extending from the base, wherein the carrier extends through the tubular elements of the plurality of connecting elements and wherein at a distal end the carrier is provided to engage at least one lock of hair of the person. The accessory facilitates installation of the connecting elements. Via the accessory a lock of hair of a person can be engaged with a distal end of the carrier of the accessory. When this lock of hair has been engaged by the distal end, one of the tubular elements situated over the carrier can be removed via the distal end of the carrier. Because the distal end engages the lock of hair, it will be possible to slide the connecting element onto the lock of hair while it is being slid off the carrier, so that the connecting element can be connected to a lock of hair in simple manner. Providing such an accessory allows end consumers possessing some degree of skill to install the hair extensions themselves, without having to visit a hair salon for this purpose. This opens up new markets and possibilities.

Each first magnet preferably has a thickness smaller than 3 mm, more preferably smaller than 2.5 mm. The overall thickness needed for connecting the hair extensions can hereby remain limited, so that this connection has no negative visual impact.

The second magnets are preferably connected to the strip in that each of the second magnets is glued to a further tubular element, this further tubular element being provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer, wherein each further tubular element is clamped around a respective hair extension lock of the hair extensions. The way in which the hair extensions are provided with magnets is the same as the way in which the first magnets are connected to the hair of the person. The effects and advantages described above also apply to the connection between the second magnets and the hair extensions.

The second magnets are preferably connected to the strip with a substantially constant predetermined intermediate distance between successive magnets. Tests have shown that when a strip with hair extensions is provided, wherein the second magnets are connected to the strip with a constant intermediate distance, the hair extensions can be installed in simple manner.

The set preferably further comprises a pair of pliers for pinching shut the tubular elements. The pliers can be adapted to optimize the clamping force between the hair and the tubular element.

The invention further relates to a method for installing extensions in hair of a person, wherein the method comprises of:

-   -   attaching a plurality of connecting elements to respective locks         of hair from the hair of the person by positioning tubular         elements of the connecting elements around the locks of hair,         wherein the tubular elements are provided on an inner side with         an anti-slip layer and are provided on an outer side with a         first magnet;     -   connecting at least one extension element, wherein the extension         element comprises a strip to which proximal ends of the hair         extensions are connected and wherein the strip further comprises         a plurality of second magnets compatible with the first magnets         of the connecting elements, to the connecting elements by         snap-fixing the second magnets onto the first magnets.

The effects and advantages described above on the basis of the set for installing hair extensions also apply to the method according to the invention.

Attaching of the plurality of connecting elements preferably comprises in each case of pinching shut a tubular element when it has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person in order to thus connect the tubular element to the lock of hair. The connection between the tubular element and the lock of hair has also been described above, and reference is therefore made to the above description for the effects and advantages.

The invention will now be further described on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a set for attaching extension hairs to a person according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an connecting element of the set of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows several steps for installing the hair extensions making use of the set according to a preferred embodiment.

The same or similar elements are designated in the drawing with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 illustrates a head of a person 1, wherein a lock of hair 2 is explicitly shown. It will be apparent that the shown lock of hair 2 forms part of the hair of the person 1, and that a plurality of locks of hair 2 can be selected from the hair in different ways. A lock of hair 2 is a bundle of head hairs of person 1. Lock of hair 2 forms part of the hairs of person 1 which are the body's own. At the position of the scalp the hairs are connected to the scalp by means of so-called hair roots.

FIG. 1 further illustrates an embodiment of base elements from a set for installing hair extensions. FIG. 1 shows here a hair extension lock 3, this being a bundle of extension hairs. Extension hairs are hairs which are not the body's own and which are added to the hair of the person 1 so as to add length and/or volume to the hair. In order to attach the extension hairs 3 connecting elements 4 are connected to the hair 2 of person 1. Each connecting element 4 has a tubular element 5 to which a magnet 6 is attached. In this description the magnet 6 which is connected to tubular element 5 of connecting element 4 is referred to as first magnet. The manner in which connecting element 4 is connected to lock of hair 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 further shows a cross-section of a strip of extension tape 7. Extension tape 7 is known and is commercially available. Strips of extension tape 7 form an elongate bundle of extension hairs which can be easily handled by means of the extension tape 7. Extension tape is commercially available, wherein the hair extension is purchased folded and sewn. The strip of extension tape 7 is here typically positioned close to the scalp, wherein locks of hair 2 which are located higher on the head of person 1 are placed over the extension tape so that extension tape 7 is no longer visible. In this way extension hairs 3 come to lie between the body's own hairs 2, and a functional and/or aesthetic mix of hairs which are the body's own and hairs which are not the body's own is thus obtained. This mixture can then be additionally styled. Additionally styled is understood to mean one or more of cutting, colouring, curling and so on. The skilled person will appreciate that the strip forms the base element of the extension elements. It will however be apparent that other types and forms of element can form a base element, and that the invention is therefore in the first instance not limited to extensions wherein the extension hairs are attached to a strip.

The strip of extension tape 7 comprises magnets 9 which are typically connected to extension tape 7 with a predetermined, substantially constant intermediate distance. In this description the magnets 9 which are connected to the extension hairs 3 are referred to as second magnet. It is noted in this context that first magnets 6 and second magnets 9 can be the same or different magnets. First magnets and second magnets are technically compatible, such that the first magnets and the second magnets are attracted to each other when brought into the vicinity of each other, as the skilled person will appreciate.

FIG. 1 further shows an exemplary embodiment for connecting second magnets 9 to strip 7. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 magnets 9 are connected to a further tubular element 8, wherein the further tubular element 8 is clamped around extension hairs 3 in order to thus connect the extension hairs to magnet 9. The skilled person will appreciate that the second magnets can be connected to the strips of extension tape in different ways without thereby departing from the core idea of the invention.

FIG. 1 further illustrates how the extension hairs are removable while connecting elements 4 are fixedly connected to locks of hair 2. Extension hairs 3 are connected to the locks of hair 2 of the person by connecting the first magnets 6 of the different connecting elements 4 which are positioned in the hair of person 1 to corresponding second magnets 9 of extension hairs 3. The skilled person will appreciate that magnets further have the option of being uncoupled by means of applying a force of a predetermined minimum magnitude, such that when first magnets 6 and second magnets 9 are connected, they can also be disconnected from each other so that extension hairs 3 can be removed from connecting elements 4. As elucidated above, giving extension hairs 3 a removable configuration has a number of advantages.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an connecting element 4. FIG. 2 makes clear here that connecting element 4 has a tubular element 5. A tubular element is defined as an element with a cavity extending from a first opening to a second opening and wherein the element has a substantially constant material thickness all the way around the cavity. The tubular element is preferably manufactured by extrusion from metal. It is not essential here for the tubular element to have a round section, on the contrary. Tubular element 5 preferably has a flat side 11 which allows magnet 6 to be connected to an outer side of tubular element 5 in simple manner. Magnet 6 is preferably adhered against flat side 11 of tubular element 5. Magnet 6 is more preferably glued to tubular element 5 by means of epoxy.

FIG. 2 further illustrates how an anti-slip layer 10 is provided on an inner side of tubular element 5. Anti-slip layer 10 is preferably formed as a further tubular element which fits in tubular element 5, this further tubular element 5 preferably consisting of an elastic material with good anti-slip properties, preferably from a silicone material. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 anti-slip layer 10 is formed as a silicone sleeve 10 which is placed in tubular element 5. The metal is preferably selected here to allow a plastic deformation of tubular element 5, as will be further elucidated with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 further illustrates the thickness of the magnet d, which is preferably as small as possible, more preferably smaller than 3 mm, most preferably about 2 mm. Tests have shown that a magnet 6 with a thickness d of about 2 mm is sufficiently strong not to break during normal use of connecting elements 4 and is sufficiently compact not to cause any unnecessary discomfort in the hair of person 1. It is mainly when tubular element 5 has been plastically deformed in order to connect connecting element 4 to lock of hair 2 that the overall thickness of connecting element 4 is reduced because tubular element 5 is pinched shut in the direction of the thickness d of magnet 6. This is further elucidated with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3A shows an accessory 12 which in a preferred embodiment forms part of the set for installing hair extensions. Accessory 12 comprises a base 13 with thereon a carrier extending from base 13. A plurality of connecting elements 4 can be placed over carrier 14. In FIG. 3A only one connecting element 4 is placed over carrier 14 for the sake of clarity. The skilled person will however appreciate that a plurality of connecting elements 4 can be provided over carrier 14 in a row. The distal end 15 of carrier 14 is configured to engage a lock of hair 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 3A distal end 15 is provided with a loop which is sufficiently large to carry a lock of hair 2 therethrough in simple manner. This is illustrated in FIG. 3B. FIGS. 3A and 3B further show how connecting element 4 is placed around carrier 14 of accessory 12 by means of its tubular element 5. Each connecting element 4 further comprises a first magnet 6.

FIG. 3C shows that tubular element 5 can be slid via distal end 15 off carrier 14 after a lock of hair 2 has been pulled through the loop of distal end 15. This automatically results in tubular element 5 coming to lie around lock of hair 2. Pulling lock of hair 2 from the situation as shown in FIG. 3C further through tubular element 5 achieves the situation of FIG. 3D, in which tubular element 5 is situated all the way around lock of hair 2. The tubular element is then carried into the desired position, typically by sliding upward 16 of connecting element 4 relative to lock of hair 2. After tubular element 5 with magnet 6 has reached its desired position relative to lock of hair 2, tubular element 5 is pinched shut as illustrated in FIG. 3E.

By pinching shut tubular element 5 silicone sleeve 10 will also be pinched shut, whereby this sleeve is positioned around the hairs of lock of hair 2 with a predetermined force. By providing silicone sleeve 10 with a material thickness of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, forces resulting from the pinching shut, illustrated in FIG. 3E with arrows 17, are distributed sufficiently over the different hairs in lock of hair 2 so that a good attachment is obtained. The skilled person will appreciate that the pinching force 17 can be optimized in order to achieve a resistance between lock of hair 2 and silicone sleeve 10 which is sufficiently great to carry extension hairs 3 and which is sufficiently small to allow connecting element 4 to be slid upward relative to lock of hair 2 when the hair has grown out. The pliers are preferably formed such that the two jaw parts of the pliers come to lie substantially parallel after tubular element 5 has been pinched shut. In this way a balanced clamping between the tubular element and lock of hair 2 is obtained.

In order to slide the connecting element upward the lock of hair 2 can be grasped below the connecting element with a force greater than the resistance force between silicone sleeve 10 and lock of hair 2, so that sliding upward of connecting element 4 can be forced.

On the basis of the above description the skilled person will be able to design a set for installing hair extensions which on the one hand allows the connecting elements to be installed in the hair of a person 1, which connecting elements can be slid upward once the hair has grown out. A skilled person will also be able to provide extension elements which can be connected releasably to the connecting elements in the hair of the person. This allows the extension elements to be installed in the hair only when this is desired. The advantages hereof have been described above. On the basis of the functional description the skilled person will also be able to select magnets 6 and 9 which, when connected, have an attractive force which is sufficiently great to carry the hair extensions, and wherein the attractive force is not too great, this in order to allow magnets 6 and 9 to be disconnected without doing considerable damage to the hair 2. All this allows a set to be provided for installing hair extensions which can be installed without intervention by a professional or specialized hair stylist.

The skilled person will appreciate on the basis of the above description that the invention can be embodied in different ways and on the basis of different principles. The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments. The above described embodiments and the figures are purely illustrative and serve only to increase understanding of the invention. The invention will not therefore be limited to the embodiments described herein, but is defined in the claims. 

1. A set for installing hair extensions, comprising: a plurality of connecting elements and at least one extension element, wherein each of the plurality of connecting elements comprises a tubular element provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and provided on an outer side with a first magnet, wherein the connecting elements are connectable to respective locks of hair of a person by positioning the tubular element around the locks of hair, wherein the extension element comprises a base element to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected, and wherein the base element further comprises a plurality of second magnets which are compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements so that the extension elements can be connected via the first and second magnets to the locks of hair of the person.
 2. The set according to claim 1, wherein each tubular element is plastically deformable so that it can be pinched shut when the tubular element has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person to connect the tubular element to the lock of hair.
 3. The set according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slip layer is formed by a silicone sleeve placed in the tubular element.
 4. The set according to claim 1, wherein each tubular element has a flat segment on the outer side and wherein the first magnet is glued fixedly against the flat segment.
 5. The set according to claim 1, further comprising an accessory with a base and a carrier extending from the base, wherein the carrier extends through the tubular elements of the plurality of connecting elements and wherein at a distal end the carrier is engageable with at least one lock of hair of the person.
 6. The set according to claim 1, wherein each first magnet has a thickness smaller than 3 mm.
 7. The set according to claim 1, wherein the second magnets are connected to the base element in that each of the second magnets is glued to a further tubular element, said further tubular element being provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer, wherein each further tubular element is clamped around a respective hair extension lock of the hair extensions.
 8. The set according to claim 7, wherein the base element is formed as a strip and wherein the second magnets are connected to the strip with a substantially constant predetermined intermediate distance between successive magnets.
 9. The set according to claim 1, wherein each second magnet has a thickness smaller than 3 mm.
 10. The set according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of pliers for pinching shut the tubular elements.
 11. A method for installing extensions in hair of a person, comprising: attaching a plurality of connecting elements to respective locks of hair from the hair of the person by positioning tubular elements of the connecting elements around the locks of hair, wherein the tubular elements are provided on an inner side with an anti-slip layer and are provided on an outer side with a first magnet; connecting at least one extension element, wherein the extension element comprises a base element to which proximal ends of the hair extensions are connected and wherein the base element further comprises a plurality of second magnets compatible with the first magnets of the connecting elements, to the connecting elements by snap-fixing the second magnets onto the first magnets.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein attaching of the plurality of connecting elements comprises, in each case, pinching shut a tubular element when it has been positioned relative to the lock of hair of the person to connect the tubular element to the lock of hair.
 13. The set according to claim 1, wherein each first magnet has a thickness smaller than 2.5 mm.
 14. The set according to claim 1, wherein each second magnet has a thickness smaller than 2.5 mm. 